Not All Tramp Metal Removal Magnets
Are Created Equal

By Bob Hodges
Covington, LA
985-871-9480

Our customers should heed this advice. Buy the tramp metal removal magnet that simply has the best holding power. Many magnet manufacturers will quote impressive Gauss numbers (which only a physicist can understand) to promote and market their products, especially the rare earth based magnet products.

IMI Pull Test Kit

The simplest way to check the performance of a magnet is to use a pull tester (basically an enhanced “fish scale”) to check how well a magnet holds a ½” diameter steel ball. The best magnets today can hold the steel ball up to 14-16 lbs of pull - anything less and you are buying a lesser magnet for probably the same price. Both TEC ENGINEERING and INDUSTRIAL MAGNETICS (IMI) have these pull testers and can come to your plant to check your magnets. They are also available for purchase if you want to own one.

I’ve heard customers (and purchasing agents) state that “a magnet is a magnet is a magnet” and just purchase what they need at the “best” (i.e. lowest) price. A sugar customer of mine recently did this and bought a very expensive magnet assembly based on the low price. They were shocked to find that their new magnet assembly had tubes with a holding power of only 9-10 lbs compared to IMI’s standard of 15-16 lbs. The production supervisor at this plant had asked for purchasing to get a price from INDUSTRIAL MAGNETICS (which the purchasing agent did not do). The purchasing agent bought on “price” from our main competitor whose magnets have been replaced in the past at this facility by IMI magnets with higher pull strengths.

Be sure of the following when you buy a magnet:

• Demand that it will pull test to a minimum of 14-16 lbs and have the supplier verify before and after the sale if needed.
  
• For rare earth magnets, specify no fillers in the magnet material used in the tubes. Some use iron fillers which can cause a tube failure in the future. Your magnetic tube should last literally forever if properly handled and operated with no decrease in performance.
  
• Specify a hard abrasion resistant,low friction coating on the magnetic tubes for abrasive and/or sticky materials. INDUSTRIAL MAGNETICS uses the proven Nedox coating.

Vibrating Screen Motion

Mechanical screening is a process of separating material into multiple grades by particle size. Screening is used in a variety of industries, such as mining and mineral processing, agriculture, pharmaceutical, food, plastics, and recycling. Screening falls under two general categories: dry screening and wet screening. Once screening separates a flow of material into grades, the grades are further processed to an intermediary product or a finished product.

There is no one screening motion that works for all applications. Smico, a leader in custom screening technology, released a video comparing common motions from several vibrating screen manufacturers. View the video below.




To view more Smico videos, showing different types and applications of screeners, or to link to their "channel", go to http://www.youtube.com/user/MrTdouglass

What Is Bulk Material Handling Equipment?

Bulk material handling equipment is used for moving, storing, blending, positioning, protecting and transporting bulk materials. You'll find bulk material handling equipment in all phases of a product's lifespan: manufacturing, distribution and disposal.

Why Use Bulk Material Handling Equipment?

Bulk material handling equipment is used for accuracy and efficiency in guiding your product through the supply chain. Properly selected equipment controls costs by increasing throughput, maximizing productivity and reducing downtime. Think about how many times your product is "touched: from the time it is ordered or manufactured, until it leaves your facility.

Types of Bulk Material Handling Equipment

Bulk material handling equipment generally has one thing in common: movable parts. Conveyors, feeders, dust collectors, reclaimers, bucket elevators, loaders, unloaders, mixers and blenders are examples.

Engineered Systems

Engineered systems combine products into one, integrated system, customized for your unique application. A properly engineered system will begin at the conceptual phase and follow your project through budgeting, design, engineering, manufacturing, supervision and installation.

Who Uses Bulk Material Handling Equipment:

Many industries rely on bulk material handling equipment to increase efficiency.

Aggregates	Iron & Steel	Plastics
Cement	Limestone	Power
Chemical	Petrochemical	Pulp & Paper
Foundry	Pharmaceutical	Resins